An idol is anything that we desire more than pleasing God. Our purpose is to glorify God and love Him with all of our hearts. Self-will leads to idolatry.
I Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubborness is as iniquity and idolatry…
I Corinthians 10:14 Wherefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
Exodus 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Matthew 23:47-40 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
I Corinthians 6:9-10 Know ye not that the unrighteousness shall inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
As Christians, we must all deal with idols in our lives. Every area where we are tempted to sin falls into one of these categories:
1. Lust of the flesh 2. Lust of the eyes 3. Pride of Life
Satan knows that if he can trap us in one of these idols, we are at risk of losing our testimony.
1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
Idols of the lust of the flesh
Music: Listening to ungodly music creates impure thoughts which can lead to other idols (sins). We must listen to music that praises the Lord and brings glory to Him.
Idols of the lust of the eyes
Pornography or Sexually Explicit Movies: Viewing ungodly pictures can create desires which lead to other idols (sins). These idols can destroy marriages and break up families.
Don’t listen to Satan’s lies when he whispers, “It’s only a picture or it is only a movie!” Replace these idols with good wholesome family entertainment. Do some fun things with your family. Show your family how much you love them.
Psalms 101:3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.
Covetousness: This idol can cause women many financial problems. They see things that they can’t afford, but they purchase them anyway.
1 Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
Idols of the pride of life
Materialism: Women are convinced that true fulfillment comes only when they have the bigger house, the better car, and the latest fashions. When they more concerned with what others think of them than what God thinks of them, they become self-centered rather than others-centered.
Philippians 2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Pride: Pride causes many problems in relationships. It can cause alienations from others in churches and on jobs. Beware of the idol “I”, “I deserve!” Satan’s original sin, “I”. Many women fall into this trap. They become so full of vanity that they are consumed with a position, a title, status, children’s success, career success.
Proverbs 13:10 Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.
Idols can be a snare to us and can hamper us from future blessings. Psalm 106:36 And they served idols: which were a snare to them.
I John 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
Interesting that you’ve written about idols since that’s what I’ve been thinking about this week. The direction of my thoughts has been more along the lines of how we can use food or friends or even time-wasting activities as replacements for the joy and satisfaction that can only come from the Lord. Would those fall under the categories of the list of the flesh?
Probably Lust of the Flesh-I know food for sure. I should have thought of that one.